Grapevine plant named ‘Sugrafiftynine’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of grapevine ‘Sugrafiftynine’ is characterized by the production of a large-sized, dark red and narrow elliptic berry with an early ripening date. The berries of ‘Sugrafiftynine’ are very firm.

Latin name of the genus and species claimed: Vitis vinifera.

Variety denomination: ‘SUGRAFIFTYNINE’.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of grapevine, ‘Sugrafiftynine’, as herein described and illustrated. The new variety was first selected as breeder number ‘GR450R’ by Terry A. Bacon in Wasco, Kern County, Calif. in July 2014. The variety was originated by controlled hybridization.

The new variety ‘Sugrafiftynine’ is characterized by the production of a large-sized, dark red and narrow elliptic berry with a very early ripening date. The berries of ‘Sugrafiftynine’ are very firm.

The seed parent is the varietal selection ‘GR163R’ (unpatented) and the pollen parent is bulk pollen of four unpatented red grape varieties: ‘GR153R’, ‘GR244R’, ‘GR246R’ and ‘GR255R’. The parent varieties were first crossed in April 2012. The date of first sowing was March 2013, and the date of first flowering was April 2015.

The new variety ‘Sugrafiftynine’ was first asexually propagated in December 2014 in Wasco, Kern County, Calif., by Terry A. Bacon using hardwood cuttings and grafting.

The new variety ‘Sugrafiftynine’ is distinguished from to its seed parent ‘GR163R’ in that while both varieties have red narrow-elliptic berries, the fruit of the new variety ‘Sugrafiftynine’ ripens about 5 days later that of ‘GR163R’ and has a larger cluster at 650 g, compared to 525 g from ‘GR163R’. The new variety ‘Sugrafiftynine’ also has a higher brix at 18%, compared to 16% brix for ‘GR163R’.

The new variety ‘Sugrafiftynine’ has a similar red berry color as ‘Flame Seedless’ (unpatented), but the new variety ‘Sugrafiftynine’ has a narrow-elliptic berry shape compared to a round shape for the berries of ‘Flame Seedless’. The new variety ‘Sugrafiftynine’ has a similar red berry color as ‘Sugrafiftythree’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,768), but ripening of the berries of the new variety ‘Sugrafiftynine’ begins about July 20 compared to June 29 for ‘Sugrafiftythree’.

The new ‘Sugrafiftynine’ variety has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, hardwood cuttings.

Variations of the usual magnitude from the characteristics described herein may occur with changes in any of a variety of factors such as growing conditions, irrigation, fertilization, pruning, management and climatic variation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographic illustration taken from a 3 year old plant shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new grape variety ‘Sugrafiftynine’. The illustration shows the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves and exterior and sectional views of the fruit. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after the fruit was picked and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1986.

Many of the descriptive values in this specification are based on and conform to those set forth by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources Institute Grape Descriptors (Vitis spp.) of 1983 and/or 1997; which was developed in collaboration with the Office International de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to three-year-old ‘Sugrafiftynine’ plants grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif. during 2019, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

VINE

-   General: (Measurements taken on a three-year-old plant).     -   -   Vine size.—Large. Height: Approximately 2.0 m. Width:             Approximately 2.5 m.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Density of foliage.—Dense.         -   Productivity.—Very productive.         -   Crop load.—Approximately 28 kg per vine after thinning.         -   Own root.—Yes.         -   Training method.—Typically cane pruned leaving 6 canes.         -   Resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to             diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Trunk:     -   -   Shape.—Stocky.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 7.5 cm (at 30 cm above the soil             line).         -   Straps.—Short, approximately 22 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Medium shaggy.         -   Inner and outer bark color.—Inner bark about Medium             Greyed-Orange 166C and weathering to about Dark Greyed-Green             197B in outer bark.

SHOOTS

-   Young shoot:     -   -   Form of tip.—Half open.         -   Intensity of anthocyanin coloration of tip.—Weak.         -   Density of prostrate hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.         -   Density of erect hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.         -   Color.—About Medium Green 139C. -   Woody shoot (Observations made in the middle third of shoot):     -   -   Attitude before tying.—Semi-drooping.         -   Growth of axillary shoots.—Medium, about 17 to 21 cm in             length.         -   Internode length.—Short, approximately 70 mm.         -   Width at node.—Approximately 13 mm.         -   Cross section.—Circular.         -   Surface texture.—Striated.         -   Main color.—About Medium Greyed-Orange 166C.         -   Color of dorsal side of internode.—About Medium             Greyed-Orange 166C.         -   Color of ventral side of internode.—About Medium             Greyed-Orange 166C.         -   Color of dorsal side of node.—About Medium Greyed-Orange             166C with Dark Greyed-Orange 166A around the bud.         -   Color of ventral side of node.—About Medium Greyed-Orange             166C with Dark Greyed-Orange 166A around the bud.         -   Density of erect hairs on nodes.—Absent.         -   Density of erect hairs on internodes.—Absent or Very Sparse.         -   Density of prostrate hairs on internodes.—Absent or Very             Sparse.         -   Density of prostrate hairs on nodes.—Absent or Very Sparse. -   Tendrils:     -   -   Distribution on the shoot at full flowering.—Discontinuous.         -   Thickness.—Approximately 3 mm.         -   Color.—About Light Yellow-Green 148D in mid-summer.         -   Form.—Bifurcated.         -   Number of consecutive tendrils.—Up to 2.         -   Length of tendril.—Medium, approximately 15 cm.

LEAVES

-   Young Leaves:     -   -   Color of upper surface of first 4 distal unfolded             leaves.—About Medium Green 138B.         -   Average intensity of anthocyanin coloration of six distal             leaves prior to flowering.—Absent.         -   Density of prostrate hairs between veins at lower surface of             4th distal unfolded leaf.—Absent or very sparse.         -   Density of erect hairs between veins at lower surface of 4th             distal unfolded leaf.—Absent or very sparse.         -   Density of prostrate hairs on veins at lower surface of 4th             distal unfolded leaf.—Absent or very sparse.         -   Density of erect hairs on veins at lower surface of 4th             distal unfolded leaf.—Absent or very sparse. -   Mature leaves (Observations made in the middle third of shoot):     -   -   Average length.—Large, approximately 13 cm to 15 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 13 cm to 15 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Pentagonal.         -   Number of lobes.—Approximately 5.         -   Mature leaf profile.—Undulate.         -   Blistering surface of blade upper surface.—Absent or very             weak.         -   Leaf blade tip.—In the plane of the leaf.         -   Undulation of margin.—Slightly undulating.         -   Thickness.—Average — typical of Vitis vinifera species.         -   Overall shape of teeth.—Mixture of both sides straight and             both sides convex.         -   Length of teeth.—Medium, ranging from about 3 mm to 8 mm.         -   Ratio length/width of teeth.—Very small, nearly 1:1.         -   General shape of petiole sinus lobes.—Generally half-open.         -   Tooth at petiole sinus.—Absent.         -   Petiole sinus limited by veins.—Absent.         -   Shape of upper lateral sinus lobes.—Usually open.         -   Depth of upper lateral sinuses.—Deep, approximately 3 cm to             4 cm.         -   Density of prostrate hairs between veins on lower surface of             blade.—Absent to very sparse.         -   Density of erect hairs between veins on lower surface of             blade.—Absent to very sparse.         -   Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on lower surface of             blade.—Absent to very sparse.         -   Density of erect hairs on main veins on lower surface of             blade.—Absent to very sparse.         -   Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on upper surface of             blade.—Absent to very sparse.         -   Autumn coloration of leaves.—Usually about Light Green 138B             becoming about Medium Grey-Brown 199C. -   Upper leaf surface:     -   -   Color.—About Dark Green 139A.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth, dull.         -   Surface appearance.—Dull.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of main veins.—Absent or very sparse. -   Lower leaf surface:     -   -   Color.—About Medium Yellow-Green 146B.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth, dull.         -   Surface appearance.—Dull.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of main veins.—Absent or very sparse. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length of petiole.—Approximately 6 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 3 mm.         -   Length of petiole compared to middle vein.—Much shorter, 6             cm for the petiole compared to 12 cm for middle vein.         -   Density of prostrate hairs on petiole.—Absent.         -   Density of erect hairs on petiole.—Absent.         -   Color.—About Medium Yellow-Green 147C. -   Buds:     -   -   Shape.—Conical.         -   Size.—Medium, approximately 3 mm wide×4 mm long.         -   Position.—Slightly held out.         -   Bud fruitfulness.—Basal, mostly fruitful.         -   Time of bud burst.—Late, approximately March 21st for the             southern San Joaquin Valley region of California.

FLOWERS

-   General:     -   -   Flower type.—Fully developed stamen and fully developed             gynoecium.         -   Position of first flowering node.—Usually 4^(th) to 5^(th)             node of current season growth.         -   Number of inflorescences per shoot.—Usually 2.         -   Time of full bloom.—Approximately April 28^(th) in the             southern San Joaquin Valley region of California.

FRUIT

-   General:     -   -   Ripening period.—Early, beginning about July 20th in the             southern San Joaquin Valley region of California.         -   Use.—Fresh market.         -   Storage quality.—Excellent. -   Cluster:     -   -   Form.—Cylindrical.         -   Cluster size (peduncle excluded).—Large.         -   Cluster length (peduncle excluded).—Approximately 23 cm.         -   Cluster width.—Approximately 15 cm.         -   Cluster weight.—Approximately 650 g.         -   Cluster density.—Loose-full. Rachis not visible but berries             freely moving.         -   Number of berries.—Approximately 80-100 berries before             trimming. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Long, approximately 3 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 5 mm.         -   Lignification of peduncle.—Weak.         -   Color.—About Medium Yellow-Green 146C. -   Berry:     -   -   Size.—Large, approximately 7.3 g.         -   Dimensions.—Longitudinal axis: Approximately 26 mm.             Horizontal axis: Approximately 23 mm.         -   Uniformity of size.—Uniform.         -   Shape.—Narrow elliptic.         -   Cross section.—Circular.         -   Skin color (without bloom).—About Dark Red 53B at full ripe,             becoming Dark Red-Purple 59A as it becomes past ripe.         -   Flesh color.—About Light Yellow-Green 148D at full ripe.             Dark Red-Purple 59A anthocyanin develops as it becomes past             ripe.         -   Anthocyanin color of flesh.—Strong, develops darker             throughout flesh as it becomes past ripe.         -   Bloom (cuticular wax).—Medium, typical of most commercial             Vitis vinifera.         -   Pedicel length.—Approximately 7 mm.         -   Pedicel thickness.—Medium, approximately 1.7 mm.         -   Berry separation from pedicel.—Moderately easy.         -   Seed traces.—Berries contain 1 to 3 rudimentary soft seed             traces per berry. Seed traces are about Dark Red 45B.         -   Berry firmness.—Very firm.         -   Flesh juiciness.—Juicy.         -   Flesh texture.—Crisp.         -   Particular flavor.—None.         -   Refractometer test.—About 18 Brix.         -   Juice pH.—About 3.8.         -   Titratable acidity.—About 0.41%.         -   Brix:acid ratio.—Approximately 44. -   Skin:     -   -   Skin thickness.—Medium, about 175 μm.         -   Skin texture.—Smooth.         -   Skin reticulation.—Absent.         -   Skin tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.         -   Skin tendency to crack.—Rare.         -   Skin sensitivity to sunburn.—None. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine as herein illustrated and described. 